Candelabrum socket



Nov. 24, 1931. c. M: PETERSEN CANDELABRUM SOCKET F'iled June 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Shee glwuentoz Carl M l el'ersen,

Nov. 24, 1931. c. M. PETERSEN CANDELABRUM SOCKET Filed June 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 C'ai'ZM.Pei ersen/,

7 Patented Nov. 24, 1931 f "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARL M. PETERSEN, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO CIRCLE F. MFG. (10., OF TRENTON', NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY I GANDELABRUM SOCKET Application filed June 16,

' This invention relates to an improvement in electrical lamp sockets and more particularly to a novel improvement in candelabrum sockets of the type employing a switch mechanism. I

I In sockets of the type referred to, the switch mechanism associated with the socket necessarily includes an operator or key and, of course, since the switch key must pro ect 10 through the surrounding sheath it has been necessary in the past to provide a key which could be removed to permit of the sheath being put in place, and afterwards replaced on the switch shaft. This construction, however, not only necessitates the removal of the key or operating knob at the time of installation, but also since the key is removable from the switch shaft thepossibility of the loss of the key during the handling of the socket prior to installation'has proved to be a source of considerable annoyance and inconvenience. a Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple and pracv215 tical construction wherein the key or switch operating member is permanently associated with the switch mechanism but movable to an out of thegway position to permit of the o placing of the sheath over the socket so that when the' key opening in the sheath registers with the key it will automatically move back into operativeposition. 7

With the above'and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature .of the invention is better'understood,the

same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

40 A preferredand practical-embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved candelabrum socket with the candle sheath shown in section.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the construction in Figure 1, and illus-' tra-ting the manner in which the operating knob or key may be moved into non-obstructing relation with reference to the sheath to 1930. Serial No. 461,520.

permit of the placing or the removal of the sheath.

Figure 3 is a detail vertical sectional view of the socket illustrating more clearly the manner of mounting the switch key or knob.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the socket with the screw wheel member thereof removed.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the porcelain base of the socket.

Figure 7 is a detail, perspective view of the frame or bracket in which the switch actuating shaft is slidably and rotatably mounted. v

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 5.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings,

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the same includes in its organization an insulating switch housing or base A recessed at one side as indicated at A to receive one part of an extensible fixture attaching member B which is secured to the base by means of the fastening C while the opposite side of the base or plug A is screw shell contact D.

The screw shell contact D is secured to the insulating base A by means of the fastening screws-1 and 2, said screws also servingto hold in place aninsulating disk 3 which covers the open side of the switch chamber S formed in the insulating block A. The screw 1 is connected with the binding terminal 4 and, therefore, the screw shell is directly in contact with one of the line wires through the screw 1 and the binding terminal 4. The screw 2 is simply a holding screw and carries no electrical current. The center plug contact of the switch is constituted by the relatively short arm 5 of a substantially U-shaped conductor member 6 (Figure 4), the said short arm 5 projecting through a slot 5a in the insulating disk 3 to make proper contact with provided with the the center plug of the lamp socket. The

is adapted to be moved by the switch mechanism from the full line position shown in Figure 4 into the dotted line position thereby to make contact with the conductor 8 which is fastened to the porcelain or other insulating member A by means of the screw 9 which also holds the binding terminal 10 in place.

Therefore, when the switch mechanism, constituting the novel and distinctive feature of the present invention is operated to move the arm 7 0f the spring 6 into engagement with the conductor 8 the circuit will be com.- pleted from binding terminal 4 for example through screw 1 to the'scre'w shell contact D and thence through the lamp to the center plug contact 567 to the conductor 8, and

thence through screw 9to line wire binding,

terminal 10.

The actuating means for the member 7 preferably consists of a'shaftll having the offset portions 12 adapted to engage the side walls of a channel-shaped tumbler member 13 in such a way that when the shaft 11 is rotated the said tumbler will be moved from the full line position shown in Figure A to the dotted line position to close the switch. In that connection it is pointed out that a distinctive feature of the mounting of the shaft 11 in the tumbler 13 is that the shaft has a free sliding movement through the tumbler into the switch chamber S as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3. The said shaft 11 is also provided at its end opposite the tumbler 13 with a head 14 having molded thereabout and keyed or otherwise permanently affixed thereto an operating knob or key 15 which is preferably exteriorly knurled as shown in Figure 1 so that the operator may readily grasp the knob for rotating the shaft 11. This knob 15 is preferably provided with a chamber 16 for receiving a spring 17 surrounding the shaft 11. The knob 15 and the shaft 11 are rotatably supported in the arm portions 18 and 19 of a carryingand supporting frame 20. As shown in Figure 7 this frame is provided with a relatively large opening 14a for receiving the knob 15 and'a relatively small opening 11a for receiving the shaft. 'Also, the arm I 18 of the frame is provided with an offset locking tongue 18awhich assists in holding the frame rigidly in place when the same is placed in position between the walls 21 and 22 of the insulating member A as shown in Figure 5.

The spring 17 is confined between the inner wall-of the arm 19 of the frame 20 and the bottom of the recess 16 provided in the knob 15, and therefore, the knob 15 is normally projected outwardly as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5.-

When it is desired to'place a candle sheath about the socket it is only necessaryto press against the knob 15 .to compress the spring 17 thereby moving the shaft 11 in the direction of its axis so that the lugs 12 completely clear the tumbler 13 and permit the placing of the end of the sheath G over the socket. The sheath G may be then moved downwardly into position until the opening G thereof registers with the knob 15 whereupon the latter will snap through the opening and be ready for service. When the knob 15 is pressed inwardly to permit of the placing or removal of the sheath Git is pointed out that the tumbler 13 will become disengaged from the lugs 12, but since the ends of the lugs are rounded, they will move back into position when the spring 17 pushes the knob 15 to its normal position, thereby always being ready forthe next rotational movement of the knob to actuate the switch contacts.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel switch operator consisting of the frame 20 I and the spring pressed slidable shaft 11 which carries the operating knob 15 therewith, the said shaft being adapted to be pushed inwardly into the insulating member A to clear the solid portion of the protecting sheath, and adapted to snap through the opening therein when the latter registers with the knob. Since the operating knob 15 is" fastened to the shaft there is no possibility of the same becoming separated and lost and thus it is not necessary for the manufacturer to provide extra knobs as must be done under the present practice to make up for lost knobs. Furthermore, the 7 user is not subjected to the inconvenience of a knob of the present type coming off as often happens if the knob is turned in the wrong direction. The present type of key permits the switch mechanism to be turned in either direction Z without losing the knob, and also when the sheath is in place on the socket, the knob 15 acts as a lock for retaining the sheath in position.' It may also be pointed out that the invention as constructed herein reduces the number of parts necessary to be used in a socket of this type and rendersunnecessary the use of many screw machine parts heretofore used to accomplish this purpose.

Without further description, it is thought that the features and advantages of the in:

vention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changesin the form, pro portion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a switch mechanism of the class described, the combination with the housing therefor and a candelabrum sheath, of a rotary operator for said mechanism carried by said housing,- and means. whereby said operator may be moved at right angles to an outer face of said housing to permit of the housing being covered and uncovered by said sheath.

2. A lamp socket of the class described comprising a body, a switch mechanism arranged therein, a rotary operator for said switch mechanism, said operator including a shaft mounted for rotary movement to operate the switch mechanism and also mounted for movement in the direction of its axis, a knob carried by the end of the shaft, and means whereby said knob is normally projected beyond the face of the body.

3. A lamp socket of the class described including a chambered body, switch mechanism mounted therein, and a rotary operator for said switch mechanism, said operator including a shaft mounted for rotation and sliding movement in the direction of its axis, a knob carried by one end of said shaft, and a spring for normally maintaining said knob projected exteriorly of the body and in operative relation to said switch means.

4. A lamp socket of the class described, including a chambered body, a switch mechanism arranged therein, a switch actuator including a frame seated in said chambered body, a shaft slidably and rotatably mounted in said frame and adapted to be operativel engagedwith the switch mechanism, a kno carried by the shaft, and a spring confined between a part of the frame and said knob for normally projecting the latter beyond the outer face of said body.

5. A lamp socket of the class described including a chambered body, a switch mechanism arranged therein, a substantially U- shaped frame fitted in the said body, an operator for said switch mechanism carried by said frame, said operator including a shaft rotatably and slidably mounted in the frame and adapted to operativelv engage with the switch mechanism, a knob carried by the shaft and having a guiding engagement with a part of said frame, and a spring confined betweenthe part of said frame and said knob for normally forcing the latter beyond the outer face of the body.

6. In a candelabrum'socket, the combination with the socket having switch mechanism therein and a tubular sheath adapted to fit over said socket and having an opening, of an operator for said switch mechanism associated therewith, and means whereby said operator may be moved into the socket proper to permit'of the placing of the sheath thereon and whereby after the sheath is in place the operator will be projected through said opening.

7 In an electrical device of the character described, a switch mounting structure, a switch mounted on said structure, a switch actuator extending normally outward from said structure, and a hollow sheath for en gagement over said switch mounting structure, said sheath having an opening therein through which the switch actuator is adapted to project, and said switch actuator being depressible within said switch supporting structure to permit the sheath to be engaged over and disengaged from said switch mounting structure.

8. In an electrical device of the character described, a switch mounting structure, a switch mounted on said structure, a switch actuator, a tubular sheath engageable over said switch mounting structure, said sheath having an opening in the side thereof through which the switch actuator is adapted to extend to the exterior of said sheath when the latter is engaged over said switch mounting structure, and means to project said switch actuator through said opening when said opening alines with said switch actuator during engagement of said sheath over said switch mounting structure.

9. A candelabrum socket construction including a sheath having an opening, a socket body including a switch mechanism having a rotatable shaft shiftable in the direction of its axis, and an operator carried by the end of the shaft adapted to be projected outwardly through said opening.

10. A candelabrum socket construction ineluding a sheath having an opening, a switch mounting block insertible in the sheath, a switch mechanism arranged within the switch body and including a rotary shaft, an operating handle thereon, and means whereby said shaft may be moved in the direction of its axis to permit shifting thereof to cause the handle to be engaged and disengaged with said opening in the sheath.

11. A candelabrum socket construction including a sheath having an opening and a switch body telescopically fitting within the sheath and adapted for both axial and circumferential adjustment relative to the sheath, and a switch mechanism arranged within the said body and including a shaft having an operating knob, said shaft being mounted for rotational and longitudinal movement in the direction of its axis, whereby the aforesaid longitudinal and circumferential movement of the switch body relative to the sheath will cause the knob to register with the opening in the sheath.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my 

